By Mark Vester
Emanuel Steward, trainer of IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir KLitschko, was told by his fighter that a contract for a June 20 showdown with David Haye is close to finalized, with the O2 Arena in London as the frontrunner venue. Steward said that Klitschko called him on Tuesday night to discuss the size of the ring for the fight with Haye.
"Wladimir called me last night to said 'Emanuel, what size ring do we want, to put in the contract," Steward said to PA Sport. "I said '20 foot' and he said 'that's all I need to know because we're finishing up the contract'. So based on that it must be in its finalised stage and it must be on. It will probably be in the O2 Arena and I'm quite sure it will be a big sell out. That's where it needs to be."
Steward says Klitschko has never been afraid to fight Haye. The problems holding up the negotiations had to do with Haye making some high level demands.
"It's never been a case of anybody being afraid of David Haye, just that he wanted to negotiate as if he was the champion and that was the problem," Steward said. "But I guess that's all sorted out, I knew it would.
"I think we're in for a very exciting fight. It's the first fight (Klitschko) that he will have fought with someone that he's going to be excited about. It's a high-interest fight because of David Haye. He's a colourful guy and an exciting fighter and he's going to make Wladimir have to fight and I like that."
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